|
June 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM CDT / 4:00 PM EDT Creating a manuscript that’s funny is no easy task. In this session, Literary Manager Lindsey Aduskevich will provide you with both tips and a checklist that will help you evaluate your humor to stand out in the competitive market. Dive into a few picture books with Lindsey to find out how to: · Amp up your humor through language · Choose a funnier character for your story · Decide which setting will give you the most opportunities for silly scenarios · Evaluate the heart in your manuscript (yes, even humor needs heart) · Make your story stand out in an agent’s inbox |
|
Writing your picture book is so exciting! Each word that makes it into the story counts. But how do you decide who gets to tell the story?
Should it come from a character or a narrator? What about talking directly to the reader? In this presentation, you will learn about different aspects you might want to think about when choosing your point of view; compare the benefits of each; and consider how character's age, historical setting, and desired audience influence the way the story is told so that it resonates with readers. Plus, each registrant gets the opportunity to submit a project directly to Natalia for consideration. |
|
Workshop #1
4/2/26 at 12:00 PM CT Build Picture Books Powered by Character Motivation. Picture books truly shine when characters make choices that move the story forward.
In this interactive workshop, you'll learn how to: ✅ Create characters with clear wants and strong emotions ✅ Build stories driven by active decisions—not passive events ✅ Raise stakes and create meaningful page turns ✅ Craft stories that feel satisfying, engaging, and kid-relatable Discover how to bring your picture book to life through characters who want, choose, and act. This workshop will help you move beyond passive storytelling and craft emotionally driven narratives that captivate young readers and keep them turning the pages. |
Workshop #2
4/7/26 at 1:00 PM CT Crafting Musical Picture Book Rhyme Without the Overwhelm... Rhyme doesn’t have to feel complicated or restrictive.
In this workshop, you'll discover: ✅ A simple, natural approach to rhythm and meter—no complicated jargon required ✅ How to write rhyme that flows smoothly and feels effortless ✅ When rhyme strengthens your story—and when it might be working against you ✅ How to avoid common pitfalls that make rhyme feel forced or distracting ✅ Techniques to make your writing more musical, engaging, and marketable Agents and editors love rhyme—when it’s done well. This workshop will help you develop the confidence and skill to use rhyme intentionally, so your manuscript stands out for the right reasons. |
|
Joy Peskin, Senior Executive Editor at Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, will pull back the curtain and walk you through her real-time editorial process. During this live workshop, Joy will read first pages on the spot—without advance preparation—so you can see exactly how an editor experiences them in the moment. You’ll gain a clear understanding of what makes an opening feel compelling, polished, and list-worthy—and what causes hesitation. She’ll also share essential do’s and don’ts for creating a strong first-page impression and examine standout opening pages from published picture books to illustrate what truly makes an opening work. Even if your own page isn’t selected for review, you’ll leave with concrete insights you can immediately apply to revise and strengthen your opening. |
|
We all know how important the first page of a submission is. If you can't hook an editor, agent, or reader on page one, they'll never make it to page two!
But what do editors actually look for when they dive into a picture book submission? What makes them keep reading and say, "I need to have this on my list?", and what elements give them pause? Macmillan Children's Publishing Group Senior Editor Kat Brzozowski will take you behind the scenes, reviewing first pages live - for the first time - so you can get a sense of what makes a picture book submission feel like a must have. Even if your page isn't reviewed, you'll come away with useful information about first pages to guide your next revision. In this live workshop, Kat will critique first pages and share her honest editorial insights, so you’ll see exactly what works, what doesn’t, and why. |
|
UNDERSTAND HOW PUBLISHERS THINK - SO YOU CAN POSITION YOUR WORK TO STAND OUT
If You've Ever Wondered: -Why some books get acquired while others don’t… -How editors evaluate whether a manuscript fits their list… -What actually happens after the “yes”… …this workshop will give you a rare, candid look inside an independent children’s publishing house — directly from a working publisher. In this eye-opening session, Janet Bruins will pull back the curtain on how an indie press operates, how lists are shaped, and how decisions are made — so you can better understand where your work fits in the market and how to submit with confidence. Plus — we’ll have time for Q&A so you can get answers to your most pressing questions. Attendees will receive a special above-the-slush submission window to Picnic Heist Publishing — available only to workshop participants. |
|
We all know how important the first page of a submission is. If you can't hook an editor, agent, or reader on page one, they'll never make it to page two!
But what do editors actually look for when they dive into a picture book submission? What makes them keep reading and say, "I need to have this on my list?", and what elements give them pause? Macmillan Children's Publishing Group Senior Editor Kat Brzozowski will take you behind the scenes, reviewing first pages live - seeing them for the first time in real time - so you can get a sense of what makes a picture book submission feel like a must have. Even if your page isn't reviewed, you'll come away with useful information about first pages to guide your next revision. |
|
9/9/25 at 7:00 PM CST
Let’s Edit Your Picture Book No, really. I’ll edit your picture book right here and now. For real. I can’t believe it either, but let’s try this. Attendees will get the chance to have their picture book edited live in the workshop by a seasoned children’s book editor turned literary agent (aka me, Carter Hasegawa). Everyone will get a chance to see how editors approach and edit a picture book text. And a lucky person – or maybe even a few people, if time allows – will get to have their ms. edited. Above the slushpile submission: Yes! There’s a special submission opportunity for all registrants! |
|
Joy Peskin
Senior Executive Editor at FSG BYR (Macmillan) |
As Senior Executive Editor at Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, Joy Peskin edits a range of books for children and teenagers. Books she has edited for FSG BYR include The 57 Bus, by Dashka Slater, New York Times Bestseller and recipient of many honors including the Stonewall Book Award (winner), YALSA-ALA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction (finalist), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction (honor); Speak: The Graphic Novel, written by Laurie Halse Anderson with art by Emily Carroll, recipient of five starred reviews; and For Black Girls Like Me and Stonewall Honor book In the Key of Us, by Mariama Lockington, each the recipient of five starred reviews.
At Macmillan, Joy is a leader of the MCPG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and she teaches a company-wide course on Author Care. Other roles Joy has occupied at Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers since joining the group in February, 2012, include Editorial Director and Executive Editorial Director. A graduate of Vassar College and the Radcliffe Publishing Program, Joy has taught writing to aspiring authors, youth experiencing homelessness, women experiencing incarceration, and teens in a juvenile detention center. Her own essays have been published in Salon, Glamour, The Huffington Post, Parents magazine, Publishers Weekly, and Lilith magazine and she is the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Writing about Seniors, Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism. Dear Hope, a play she wrote, was produced by the Hangar Theater in Ithaca, New York, in November, 2020. She has mentored and tutored children in New York City and New Jersey since 1997, and she is now a CASA (court appointed special advocate) within the foster care system in Essex County, New Jersey. Joy has served on the boards of Every Child a Reader and Literacy for Incarcerated Teens. |
|
Join Stephen as he takes a fascinating look at picture books, both past and present, and dives deep into the essential elements that make a picture book truly stand out.
In this workshop, you'll discover: ✔ What makes a picture book captivating for readers of all ages ✔ Common pitfalls to avoid when writing for young audiences ✔ Insight into current trends and the evolving picture book market |
|
Join us for an exclusive interview with Associate Agent Jackie Kruzie as we delve into her preferences, pet peeves, and what truly impresses her when it comes to submissions. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just dipping your toes into the publishing world, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. |
|
Connect with Rosie
|
|